IMC 2026: Sessions

This series of four panels seeks to offer a window onto the current state of research on the ‘Viking Diaspora’. We are currently in a vibrant and dynamic moment of interdisciplinary scholarship on the ‘Vikings’ and the global network they established. Scandinavian settlement across much of Northern Europe and beyond is increasingly understood as a ‘Viking Diaspora’ of communities linked through shared elements of history, culture, and language. What was life like for Vikings outside of Scandinavia and how did they impact the many peoples and polities they interacted with, peacefully or otherwise? One panel will interrogate trends across the entire diaspora, while three others will focus geographically on a more specific maritime zone, showcasing the multi-disciplinarity of new perspectives.

This first panel’s presentations address the Viking Diaspora as a whole. Sarah Christensen considers the role of language and multilingualism in the lives and labours of enslaved peoples, complicating linear narratives of forced migration along the Northern Arc. Tom Fairfax uses Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques to map the Viking Age international ruling dynasties described by the Arnmœðlingatal. Lesley Abrams provides a granular analysis of disparities within local communities which encourages reflection on the applicability of the diaspora model.